When the United States became involved in World War II, Willys-Overland Motors and Ford Motor Company won a government contract to produce the military’s first general purpose vehicle. The result would soon become known as Jeep. The little workhorse won the hearts and rattled the…
Toyota plans on blowing minds at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show this month with the reveal of their FV2 concept. The super-futurist ride steers, brakes, and accelerates in accordance with the body movements of its driver. If that isn’t Sci-Fi enough for you, it also…
Tomcar Australia is causing a stir this month both in automotive news and the emergence of digital currency. The startup Australian off-road vehicle manufacturer announced that in addition to good old fashioned Aussie dollars, they will now also accept payment for their products via Bitcoin.
Dodge announced this week at the 2013 SEMA show plans to jazz-up a core piece of their MOPAR heritage with the reintroduction of their legendary Scat Pack packages. In honor of the 45th anniversary of the “Scat Pack” Dodge enthusiast club, which led Dodge to…
Driving subjects from the past few columns have generated a wealth of reader email. That’s a good situation, and here’s a sampling. A note from reader P.Y. addressed an issue by writing, “An item in your October 13 article caught my eye. It had to…
LIke seeing an old friend after a long absence, it was good having Mazda’s CX-9 back in my driveway. The CX-9 is Mazda’s largest vehicle, a midsize, three-row crossover with all the expected virtues -- a comfortable, high-tech cabin, abundant cargo capacity, available all-wheel-drive. What…
Looking out my window this morning, I see a car -- a midsize Japanese sedan -- painted a dark and sober shade of gray called Polished Metal. Last weekend, in the grocery story parking lot, I led the young man pushing my cart to another…
Yet another example of James Bond gadgetry come to life is beginning to surface in police departments around the country. The new technology is threatening to ruin quality daytime programming such as Fox’s “Wildest Police Chases” in an attempt to make hot pursuit a thing…
What I learned yesterday driving the all-new, 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith in Phoenix: Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a damn fine car. Rolls-Royce sells about 3,500 cars a year around the globe. A quarter-mill will get you into the “most affordable” Rolls, the…
Ford announced this week that the 2014 Ford Fiesta is good for a whopping 45mpg highway when equipped with their 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. And indeed, that will make the new Fiesta the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, gasoline-powered car certified by the EPA. Jealous?
Automotive news from Saudi Arabia this weekend serves as a stark reminder feminine equality is a bit behind the times there. Saudi police arrested 12 women and gave fines to six other ladies for purposely ignoring the country’s ban on female driving.
Size disproportion is a prominent traffic safety topic. A recent discussion here about the interaction of large semi trucks with smaller vehicular traffic struck some nerves. Some automobile drivers relayed stories of trucker intimidation, while some truckers recounted tales of automobile drivers’ lack of consideration…
In 2011, Hyundai debuted an entry-level coupe called the Veloster. Its profile was half coupe, half hatchback and a pair of passenger-side doors gave it sedan-like utility. Hoping to entice young buyers, Hyundai endowed the Veloster with flamboyant styling, impressive cabin tech and an affordable…
As is typical, traffic and driver topics previously explored in this column have generated some new reader inquiries. J.H. remarked and asked, “My friends and I were discussing the intersection at 2nd and Thor the other day and couldn’t agree on whether or not the…
Obscured in the shadows cast by showier models, Acura’s midsize TL doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Call it a very good outlier in the near-luxury sport-sedan segment, where BMW’s 3 Series rules. Two things set the TL apart from its rivals -- its front-wheel-drive…
A note from reader R.B stated, “My sister, who drove vans for transporting the handicapped for years, claims that people chose to drive in the left lane because it is smoother. People with disabilities would cry out in pain each time the van would hit…
How much fun is there to be had at 40 mpg? Plenty, as I discovered out on SR 14 last week. Sitting high on the North side of the Columbia River, the sparsely traveled, two-lane road blends river-gorge scenery, winding roads and relaxing stretches of…
As always, I appreciate getting your comments via email — that way, I know what’s really on your minds. This week, a few readers relayed points of interest. N.E. complained about some seriously slow driving when he wrote, “I’ve noticed in the past 2 weeks…
Subaru appears to be at the crossroads. Among executives, one faction wants to drive the company into the mainstream, with a more conventional lineup. Another believes Subaru’s niche-player status works in its favor. Subaru’s commitment to standard all-wheel-drive and to an unorthodox engine architecture does,…
As of this week, the 2014 Kia Soul has arrived at West Coast ports and is making its way to dealerships across the country. For the faithful -- and their numbers are legion -- this amounts to high drama. In its short lifespan -- it…
In a perfect world, compact sedans would hit 40 mpg on the highway, accommodate four adults in comfort, embrace the latest technology and be as spirited as an MX-5 Miata. As a week in the 2013 Nissan Sentra proves, though, three out of four ain’t…
It’s inevitable that you and your passenger vehicle will interact with “big rigs” and their drivers in both city and rural settings. Proper and safe behavior during those interactions is required by both parties for harmonious coexistence. A recent column addressing the “rolling roadblocks” created…
Whenever I discover someone I’m speaking with has even a passing interest in cars I have to ask them one burning question: “Have you ever heard of the Drive network?”
Reflecting again on a recent 6000-mile road trip through 16 states, salient points come to mind. While the majority of those miles passed without threat of difficulty, certain events required emergency-readiness. Successful drivers must avoid becoming lulled into complacency during uneventful moments, and adopt an…
My father-in-law Jack was a proper Buick owner, a self-made businessperson with a South Hill rancher and a Century wagon in the driveway. He worked hard to buy that car and I never saw him happier than the day he drove it home. Like most…
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